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Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac welcomes overseas Filipino workers repatriated from the Middle East upon their arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport yesterday.
Photo from Department of Migrant Workers
MANILA, Philippines — The first Philippine chartered flight since the Middle East crisis broke out brought home 442 Filipinos yesterday, according to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).
Of the total number of repatriates from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), 200 are overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and seven are children.
“The safe return of our kababayans affected by the Middle East crisis is a response and part of the post-repatriation assistance being provided by the government,” the DMW said.
The DMW said the flight was made possible through the help and coordination of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Philippine embassy in Abu Dhabi, the Philippine consulate general in Dubai and the Filipino community in the UAE.
The second batch of repatriated Filipinos from the Middle East is expected to arrive today from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in another Philippine chartered flight.
In a related development, 24 OFWs were evacuated from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia through a repatriation flight deployed by Singapore for its nationals.
A Palace statement quoted Singaporean Ambassador Constance See as saying that a Republic of Singapore Air Force A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft was sent to bring Singaporeans home.
After prioritizing Singaporeans and their families, available seats were given to people from other countries, including the 24 Filipinos.
The flight, which was described as “ASEAN solidarity in action,” landed in Singapore on March 13 at 5:59 a.m.
“This was very much a partnership. We worked in close coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine consulate general in Jeddah, to facilitate the Filipinos who joined the flight,” See said.
“Singapore and the Philippines are close friends, and we were very glad to help these Filipinos begin their journey home. At the end of the day, what matters most is that people return safely to their families,” she added.
The first flight carrying repatriated Filipinos from Dubai arrived last March 5 in a flight arranged by the UAE government.
Pinay OFW’s remains
The remains of the Filipina caregiver who was killed in a missile attack in Israel arrived in the country early morning yesterday, the DMW said.
Mary Ann de Vera’s body, accompanied by husband Bernie Lavarias, landed at the airport around 4:30 a.m. It was received by her family, DMW and OWWA.
“The DMW and OWWA will continue to provide the necessary help and support to the family of the deceased OFW during time of mourning,” the DMW said in a statement.
Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Dana Kursh and representatives from the Congress and the Senate were also present during the arrival of De Vera’s remains.
The DMW said Lavarias earlier met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who expressed deepest condolences to the family.
Last March 12, the Philippine embassy in Israel organized a vigil prayer in Jerusalem for De Vera.
A native of Pangasinan, De Vera, 32, started working as a caregiver in Israel in 2019. — Alexis Romero, Michael Punongbayan
